Families Ages 6+ The Hamlyn family trails are supported by

Museum explorersjourney acrossJapan

Welcome

The Hamlyn family trails are supported by

Museum explorersjourney acrossJapan

This trail guides you on a journey of exploration and discovery around the Museum. On the way you’ll track down some amazing treasures and learn tales of human history. Whichever way you go, and whatever you discover, enjoy yourself! If you ever feel lost, just ask a member of staff for help. Useful information for families

• Accessible toilets and baby changing facilities are available. You can breastfeed and bottle feed anywhere on the Museum’s grounds but if you would like more privacy, please use the feeding room in the Ford Centre for Young Visitors in the Clore Centre for Education on the Lower floor, Level -1, or one of our baby changing spaces. For details, ask at the Families Desk or Information Desk in the Great Court, or pick up a map of the whole Museum.

• You can leave fold-up pushchairs in the cloakroom free of charge.

• You can find child-friendly food at the cafés. High chairs are available.

• You can use the Ford Centre for Young Visitors to picnic with your family at weekends and during school holidays.

The sun is an importantsymbol in Japan. What doyou think of when you seethe sun in the sky?

Levels 3 & 4

Level 3 Level 3

Up to 94Level 5

Level 1Level 1

Level 3

Down to 91

Southstairs

Northstairs

Weststairs

Eaststairs

Level 4

Level 5

Level 3

Level 3

North stairs

91a 91 90 90a

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3768

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Your journey starts in Room 92, Upper floor, Level 5

Case numbers can be hard to find – don’t be afraid to ask a member of staff for help finding an object

Welcome to JapanRoom 92

Ding dong!Room 93

What’s your wish?Room 93

Metal marvelsRoom 93

Dramatic danceRoom 93

Buckle upRoom 93

Creative craftsRoom 94

Dawn is risingRoom 94

Discover ancient and modern objects from a fascinating and flourishing nation as you journey across Japan. You’ll need the expert eyes of a historian to track down every object!

Your journey starts in Room 92, Upper floor, Level 5

Upper floors

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This map shows the locations of the objects in this trail. You can pick up a map of the whole Museum at the Information Desk in the Great Court. Please note that some galleries may be closed at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances or refurbishment.

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Stairs

Lift

Toilets

Accessible toilet

Baby changing

Welcome to JapanGo to Room 92 on the Upper floor, Level 5

Kannon, a Buddhist deity, welcomes you to the Japanese galleries. Kannon is kind and merciful and wants to help people.

This statue of Kannon was made about 1930 and is a replica of a famous statue from the 7th century

How many different ways of being kind can you think of? An act of kindness might help someone or cheer them up. Choose one to do today.

What sort of help do you think you might need as you journey through Japan?Perhaps you could imagine Kannon supporting and helping you during your adventure.

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Ding dong! No one knows exactly why these bells were buried – archaeologists have studied them but it remains a mystery!

These bells might have been buried in rituals to help farmers’ crops grow well.Have you ever thought of something as your ‘lucky charm’? What was it and why?

Can you name any other things people do orsay for luck?Some people cross their fingers or say ‘break a leg’. How many different ways can you think of?

Go to Room 93 and find Case 5

These bells were buried in hillsides. Originally, bells like these would have been able to ring, but later they were designed to be more decorative and too large to be rung. It’s thought the bells belonged to the community, and were not owned by one person.

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What’s your wish?Find the statue of Kichijōten in Case 5

Cultures are always influencing each other and trading not just objects, but also ideas. Kichijōten is a Buddhist deity who was developed from an Indian Hindu goddess.

The sculpture of Kichijōten was carved from a singleblock of wood

Can you pronounce this Buddhist deity’s name?Sound it out: Ki – chi – jō (long ‘o’) – ten.

Can you copy her pose?Kichijōten is a kind deity – her right arm is held out as if in welcome and her left hand holds a wish-granting jewel.

If you could have one wish granted, what would it be and why?Talk to your group about your wishes. Are any of the wishes similar?

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Metal marvelsFind Case 9

The islands of Japan used to have great quantities of iron, copper, gold and silver. Metalworking has long been an important skill on the islands and has been developing from ancient times to today.

These animals are made of individual metal components, meaning they can curve in lifelike ways.How would they move? Do an impression of one of the animals in the case and see if your group can guess which one it is.

Find the mythological fish in this case.Look closely and invent a name for it. Discuss with your group – which name do you like the most?

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Dramatic danceFind Case 6

During traditional Japanese dances known as bugaku, performers would often wear elaborate masks and intricate costumes to bring stories to life.

Find this mask and look closely at all the detail.What does this mask tell you about the character it portrays? Discuss with your group.

Imagine you were performing your own story.What would the mask you wear look like? Can you act like the character your mask represents?

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Buckle upFind Case 21

These small figures are called netsuke. Originally men would attach netsuke to their bag and hang them over the sash around their waist to stop the bag from falling.

Many of the figures in this case are inspired by nature because netsuke artists take inspiration from the world around them

Find and point to these animals. Who can find them all first?

Pigeon Hare

Toad Octopus

Horses Goat

Goldfish

Look closely and choose your favourite.What do you like about it? Did anyone in your group choose the same netsuke?

Imagine that you are a netsuke artist.If you could design your own netsuke, what animal would you choose? What does this animal mean to you?

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Creative craftsGo to Room 94 and find Case 13

This metal vase is shaped like a sponge gourd. The inscription on the vase tells us that it was made by Shōami Katsuyoshi. He began learning the skills of metalworking at the age of 13.

It’s time to look very carefully at this busy vase. Can you see:

Two birds?

A beetle?

A hungry snake?

A hole for placing flower arrangements?

About 50 species of snakes live in Japan, three of which are poisonous. Do you know how many species of poisonous snakes live in the UK?

Answer: Only one – the adderA sponge gourd is a type of vegetable that produces clusters of striking yellow flowers

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Dawn is risingFind Case 15

Find the large dish called Dawn. This dish uses three main colours to illustrate the rising sun of dawn. It was created by the artist Tokuda Yasokichi III, who is known as a ‘Living National Treasure’ in Japan.

‘Living National Treasure’ is a special title given to people who preserve the cultural history of Japan through practising traditional skills and techniques

What’s your favourite time of the day? What three colours do you associate with it? Talk to your group about your answers.

Don’t forget your colours, as you can get creative at home.Using the three colours you’ve chosen, can you recreate your own multicoloured masterpiece?

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You have completed the journey across Japan trail! You can find even more interesting objects from Japan in other parts of the Museum:

Imagine wearing the silk slipper from Japan in Case 14 in Room 1

Discover the earliest Japanese coins in Case 9 in Room 68

Compare the Japanese watch in Room 39 to a modern day watch

Head back to the Families Desk to receive a stamp! What an adventure that was. You’ve travelled across a nation, explored ideas and skills, and found out lots of fascinating things about Japan. Of all the things you discovered, what was your favourite?

Names

Ages

Date

Favourite objects

Other things you could do when you get home:

Perform your own bugaku dance. Choreograph it and teach it to your friends!

Make your own netsuke – get creative with some modelling materials.

Find out how to say ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ in Japanese.

Complete your journey across Japan whenyou get home by drawing your idea for the otherside of this mask.

At home

Trails in the Museum explorers series

Ages 6+• Africa around the world• Ancient Britain• Ancient Egypt• Ancient Greeks• Fantastic creatures• Journey across Japan

Ages 3+• Colour and shape• Time to count

You can find out more about our family activities at britishmuseum.org

See you at the British Museum again soon!

The British Museum Great Russell StreetLondon WC1B 3DGbritishmuseum.org© The Trustees of the British Museum 08/2019

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Cover: Reimi (Dawn), a large porcelain dish made by Tokuda Yasokichi III, from Ishikawa-ken, Honshu. Japan, Asia, Heisi Era, September 1992.

Reproduction of statue of Kudara Kannon, made in Japan by Niiro Chunosuke. Japan, Asia, Showa Era, about 1930.

Dotaku (bell) made of bronze. Japan, Asia, Yayoi Period, 200 BC–AD 250.

Dotaku (bell) made of bronze, found in Yahagi, Wakayama-ken. Japan, Asia, Yayoi Period, 200 BC–AD 250.

Wooden figure of Kichijōten, carved in ‘ichiboku zukuri’ style. Japan, Asia, Heian Period, 11th century.

Articulated figure of a snake made of gilded iron by Myochin Muneyoshi. Japan, Asia, Edo Period, about 1750–1850.

Articulated figure of a catfish made of iron by Myochin Munemitsu. Japan, Asia, about 1701–1850.

Mask for bugaku performance made of lacquered and gilt wood and hair. Japan, Asia, Edo Period, 17th century.

Netsuke fugu fish, made of ivory by Masanao in Kyoto. Japan, Asia.

Netsuke hare with loquats, made of ivory by Yamaguchi Okatomo in Kyoto-fu, Kansai, Hoshu. Japan, Asia, Edo Period, late 18th century.

Netsuke pigeon, made of ivory by Ohara Mitsuhiro in Osaka-fu, Kansai, Honshu. Japan, Asia, Edo Period, mid 19th century.

Netsuke octopus and pot, made of ivory by Ohara Mitsuhiro in Osaka-fu, Kansai, Honshu. Japan, Asia, Edo Period, mid 19th century.

Hanging flower-vase in the form of a gourd entwined with vine, made by Shoami Katsuyoshi. Japan, Asia, Meiji Era, late 19th century.

Reimi (Dawn), a large porcelain dish made by Tokuda Yasokichi III, from Ishikawa-ken, Honshu. Japan, Asia, Heisi Era, September 1992.

At home activity: Mask for bugaku performance made of lacquered and gilt wood and hair. Japan, Asia, Edo Period, 17th century.